Buzz
Radioactivity, a profoundly peculiar natural occurrence, has been the focus of extensive research for decades. Despite this, much about its impacts, applications, and risks remains poorly understood.
10. The Suburban Chernobyl
While many are aware that Madame Curie’s groundbreaking research ultimately caused her early death, fewer realize the enduring impact of radiation on her personal items. Her notebook, for instance, remains highly radioactive and is kept in a lead box. Accessing her belongings requires protective gear and a signed liability waiver.
This comes as no surprise, given that Curie often carried chunks of polonium, radium, and uranium in her pockets. She persisted in her radiation experiments until her death in 1934.
Trucks frequently delivered the iron she used to isolate radioactive isotopes and hauled away the resulting waste. Even now, with 90 percent of the building’s contents removed, the site of her former lab remains a miniature Chernobyl.
Numerous nearby residents attribute their cancer diagnoses to her laboratory, though many argue that the building no longer poses a significant radiation threat.
9. The Radioactive Man
In May 2012, Connecticut firefighter Mike Apatow was heading to an appointment when a police officer stopped him unexpectedly. The reason wasn’t a typical traffic violation—his car had been flagged as radioactive. Apatow was baffled since his vehicle contained no radioactive materials, except for his own body.
Earlier that day, he had received an injection of a minimal amount of radioactive substance for a nuclear stress test to monitor his blood flow. The dosage was extremely low, comparable to a CT scan, but sufficient to trigger the radiation sensor in the police car.
Apatow was most astonished to learn that police vehicles could detect radiation. The officer explained that these detectors are part of homeland security measures, and many patrol cars in Connecticut are equipped with them.
8. Got Your Nose
From 1948 to 1954, 582 third-grade students in Baltimore City schools were part of an experiment called a nasal radium irradiation test, which later caused many to develop head and neck cancers. Funded by federal grants, doctors at Johns Hopkins University inserted metal rods containing 50 milligrams of radium-226 into the children’s nostrils.
Parents and children were informed that the procedure aimed to shrink adenoids and lymph tissue, avoiding the need for traditional adenoidectomies. However, the doctors were also studying the impact of radiation on long-term hearing loss.
This nasal radiation treatment was recommended by physicians for a range of conditions, including allergies and colds. The radiation levels were so concerning that the Veteran’s Administration advised veterans who had undergone a similar, lower-dose experiment to seek medical evaluations for potential long-term effects.
Many records of these children have been lost, making it difficult for agencies to locate the now-adult participants. Some individuals have since come forward, revealing diagnoses of nasopharynx, tongue, and thyroid cancers linked to the experiments.
Not every child experienced adverse effects from the radiation. Regina Shaffer, who suffered from chronic ear infections as a child, had significant hearing loss that impacted her speech. After receiving the nasal radium treatment, her hearing improved dramatically.
As of early 2016, Regina has shown no negative health effects from the radiation. In contrast, another woman was less fortunate, losing her fingernails and toenails a year after the treatment and experiencing issues with her lymph nodes.
7. The Sterility Dose
Long before the Moon landing, scientists were deeply invested in studying how space would affect astronauts’ physiology. Among their primary concerns was the impact of radiation on the reproductive systems of astronauts and nuclear power plant workers.
Dr. C. Alvin Paulsen and Dr. Carl Heller spearheaded research to determine the radiation dosage required to induce sterility in men. Their studies also examined how radiation affected specific testicular cells, hormone production, and the recovery time for cell regeneration.
One of the most egregious human radiation experiments involved 67 Oregon inmates and 131 Washington prisoners from 1963 to 1973. Enticed by the prospect of parole and a modest $5 monthly payment, prisoners agreed to have their testicles exposed to 400 rads of radiation (equivalent to about 2,400 chest X-rays) in 10-minute intervals.
Participants were not fully informed of the risks. Additionally, they were offered $100 to undergo vasectomies after the radiation exposure.
6. The Mysterious Appearance of the Radioactive Lake
The sudden emergence of a massive lake in drought-ridden Tunisia should have been a joyous event. Known as Gafsa Beach, it quickly became a hotspot for locals seeking relief from the scorching heat.
While the exact formation of the lake remains unclear, scientists speculate that a seismic activity caused a fracture in the water table, allowing groundwater to surface. However, the lake’s creation is less alarming than what it contains.
Two weeks after the lake’s discovery, Gafsa’s public safety officials warned against swimming in its waters. Despite the advisory, no official ban was enforced, and many have disregarded the caution.
Experts fear the lake may be heavily contaminated, potentially even radioactive, due to the region’s extensive phosphate mining. The lake’s color has also shifted from a clear turquoise blue to a dull, murky green.
5. The Radium Water Worked Fine Until His Jaw Fell Off
During the 1920s, radioactivity was a popular trend. Eben Byers decided to use Radithor, a radioactive drinking water produced by the Bailey Radium Laboratory, to treat an arm injury he sustained from a fall. The laboratory was run by a man with a fraudulent medical degree.
The concept of Radithor originated from the perceived healing properties of hot springs. One theory suggested that the therapeutic effects were due to radon gas dissolved in the water.
Many individuals didn’t experience adverse effects from radon water because its half-life was only 3.8 days. However, Byers consumed excessive amounts of Radithor, leading to symptoms like weight loss, joint pain, headaches, and jaw discomfort.
When Byers consulted his doctor, he was initially diagnosed with sinus issues. However, a radiologist reviewing his X-rays discovered that the 1,500 bottles of Radithor he had ingested were causing his jawbone and teeth to literally crumble.
Byers was unaware that Radithor didn’t contain the supposedly healing radon gas. Instead, it was laced with radium, which has a half-life of 1,600 years. Radium mimics calcium, accumulating in bones and destroying surrounding tissue and marrow.
Over time, Byers lost nearly all of his upper and lower jawbones, retaining only two teeth. His skull developed holes as his bones disintegrated. He passed away in 1932 at the age of 51.
Medical experts were astonished by Byers’ prolonged survival and his relatively good condition despite the circumstances. He had ingested radiation levels sufficient to kill four individuals. When his body was later exhumed, his remains were still radioactive.
4. Goiania Accident
On September 13, 1987, Roberto dos Santos Alves and Wagner Mota Pereira illegally entered the partially demolished Instituto Goiano de Radioterapia, a radiotherapy facility.
Inside, they dismantled equipment in the teletherapy unit, hoping to sell the stolen parts for profit. Both men began experiencing severe vomiting but chose to ignore their symptoms and continued their activities.
Pereira started experiencing dizziness and diarrhea. His hands swelled, and he developed a burn matching the shape of the equipment he had handled. Two days later, he visited a local clinic, where he was misdiagnosed with a stomach infection and sent home.
On September 16, the duo successfully extracted the cesium-137 capsule from the machine. Using a screwdriver, they broke open the capsule, revealing a striking blue glow.
Demonstrating poor judgment, Alves scooped out some of the cesium chloride, mistaking it for gunpowder, and attempted to ignite it. When it didn’t burn, they sold the material to a nearby scrapyard.
Devair Alves Ferreira, the scrapyard owner, believed the glowing substance possessed magical properties and invited friends and family to see it. Meanwhile, Alves’s arm and Pereira’s fingers had deteriorated so severely that amputation became necessary.
Over three days, Devair distributed the radioactive material freely until his wife became ill. His brother, Ivo, collected some of the powder and spread it on his cement floor. Tragically, Ivo’s young daughter, equally enchanted by the blue glow, covered herself with the powder.
On September 25, Devair attempted to sell the contaminated scraps to another scrapyard. Fortunately, his wife, noticing the severe illnesses affecting those around them, retrieved the scraps and took them to a nearby hospital.
The radiation exposure resulted in four direct deaths: Ivo’s daughter, Devair’s wife, and two scrapyard workers. A day later, a massive cleanup operation began, though it was complicated by the breached capsule.
3. Bionerd23
Following the footsteps of Galen Winsor is a woman known as Bionerd23. Her YouTube videos, which show her exploring Chernobyl’s Exclusion Zone and engaging in bizarre activities, have recently sparked widespread controversy.
Quoting Marie Curie, she declared her lack of fear toward radiation. Bionerd23 has been filmed handling radioactive fuel, injecting herself with radionuclide technetium, and even eating an apple from a so-called “undead tree.”
She has compiled over 60 videos chronicling her explorations in Chernobyl but avoids sharing personal details. In an email to Atlas Obscura, she stated: “I don’t discuss that, as my identity is irrelevant. People should admire a scientist’s work, not the individual. The person is insignificant.”
Like Windsor, she argues that no level of radioactivity is inherently dangerous if managed in small quantities. Beyond her radioactive exploits, she also handles mercury with her bare hands.
In a scene reminiscent of Spider-Man‘s Peter Parker, Bionerd23 discovers a piece of uranium near a reactor teeming with ants. She allows the ants to bite her hands without hesitation.
For those doubting the authenticity of her radiation exposure, she carries a Geiger counter that often registers extreme levels. Despite her risky endeavors, her primary fear isn’t radiation poisoning or cancer but the possibility of collapsing structures falling on her.
2. The Mysterious Radiation Burst
Researchers analyzing tree rings discovered an unusual radiation spike approximately 1,200 years ago. As reported by Nature, the atmospheric concentration of the C isotope surged to about 20 times its normal level for a year or less. While the event is evident, its cause remains a mystery.
This carbon isotope forms when high-energy cosmic radiation strikes Earth, generating neutrons that collide with nitrogen-14, causing it to decay. Solar flares and supernova gamma radiation have been ruled out, as they would likely have produced additional observable effects.
For instance, supernova explosions in 1006 and 1054 were documented, but they left no trace in tree rings. This suggests the anomalous event was far more significant. Additionally, scientists would have detected the luminous remnants of such an occurrence.
Some experts dismiss the idea of a solar flare, arguing that an event of such magnitude would have obliterated the ozone layer or triggered massive auroras. Others, however, propose that a coronal mass ejection might have been responsible.
Despite extensive research, the exact cause of this massive radiation surge remains a mystery.
1. Nuclear Scam?
Despite decades of research highlighting the dangers of radiation, individuals like Galen Winsor argue that it is relatively harmless. After 35 years in the nuclear industry, Winsor concluded that fears of radiation-induced mutations were entirely unfounded.
After Winsor helped to design and build a nuclear reprocessing plant in California in 1965, the plant was shut down before it could open. This left 170 metric tons of spent fuel in a 660,000-gallon pool stored in the basin. To “stick it to the man,” Winsor decided to begin swimming in the tank. He also gave the radioactive material to his colleagues without their knowledge.
Winsor was said to drink irradiated water and play with U-235 and plutonium all day without any consequences. Winsor was also known for his lectures about the harmlessness of radiation, which he gave in over 77 cities.
He stated that almost all his colleagues agreed with him but were too afraid to speak out. He also claimed that the government was trying to hide the harmlessness of radiation from the public for fear of mass pilfering if the secret ever got out.
Winsor died in 2008, but the cause of death is unclear.
+ Potassium Iodide Tablets Won’t Save You
In the event of a nuclear catastrophe, you might instinctively reach for a potassium iodide pill to mitigate radiation effects. However, this approach is ineffective. While many assume potassium iodide (KI) is a universal remedy for radiation exposure, it solely safeguards the thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland absorbs iodine from the bloodstream without distinguishing between radioactive and non-radioactive forms. Consuming potassium iodide offers no defense against external radiation or internal exposure from most radionuclides, except for radioiodine. It’s important to note that radioactive iodine is just one of over 200 radionuclides generated during uranium fission.
For those preparing for apocalyptic scenarios, it’s disappointing to learn that your stash of KI won’t shield you from the effects of a nuclear explosion, a dirty bomb, or a reactor meltdown.
